Improvement in feed-water heaters and purifiers



5 Sheets--Sheet I.

Y S. HUGHES. ,Feed-Water Heater and Purifier.

No. 20u81. Patented March 12,1878.

y 'f .2- l 4 {lill/ lll/ll WITNESSES INVENTOR N. PETERS.FIfIDTO-LITMDGHQPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

i A A 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S; HUGHES. Feed-Water Heater andlPurifier.

. Patented March i2, |878.

ATTORN EY N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D, C.

5 sheets-sheet a( s. HUGHES. Feed-Water Heater and Purifier.

Patented March 12, |878.

No. 20H81..

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W//////////////////o W INVENTOR ITNESSES @bw AT ORNEY N.FETERS,PHDTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WAMINGTUN. D. C.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

s. HUGHES. Feed-Water Heater and Purifier. No. 2OI,I8I.

Patented March 12, 1878.

m TTORN'EY INVENTOR N4 PETERS. FHOT0L|TMOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, D C.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

S. HUGHES. -Water Heater and Purifier..

Feed No. 20l,|81.

Patented March l2, 1878.

AT ORNEY NA PETERS. PHOTD-LITHO/GRAFHER, WASHINGTON. Dv C4 UNITED STATESPATENT OEEIGE.

SAMUEL HUGHES, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEED-WATER HEATERS AND `PURIFIERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,181', dated March12, 1878; application filed A January 30, 1878.

To all' lwhom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HUGHES, of Charleston, in the county ofCharleston and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Feed-Water Heaters and Purifiers; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had tothe accompanyingdrawings, which form part oil this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in feed-water heaters andpurifiers; the object being to provide a combined heater and purier forthe feed-water of steam-boilers of such a construction that thefeed-water shall` be subjected to the maximum amount of heatingsurface,the several parts of the apparatus to be secured tol each other in sucha manner that entrance to the interior of the same, for the purpose ofcleaning the same, may be readily effected without disturbing the tubesor tube-sheets; and to that end my invention consists, first, in afeed-water heater and puriier consisting, essentially, of awater-heating cylinder provided with a series of steam-tubes and asteam-jacket surrounding said watercylinder, the several parts being soarranged that the steam is first conveyed through the tubes in thewater-cylinder, and then conducted through the4 intervening annularspace between .the water-cylinder and steam-jacket, whereby thefeed-water is subjected to the heat radiated from'the steam-tubes andalso the water-cylinder.

My invention further consists in a feed-water heater and purifierwherein the water-cylinder is surrounded by a steam-jacket, and thesteam-tubes in said water-cylinder separated from each other, in such amanner that steam will pass through a portion of said tubes, and thenreturn through the remaining tubes of the series, and from the chamberformed in the end of the apparatus the steam is then conducted into theannular space between the steam-jacket and water-cylinder to thesteamexit, located at the upper end of the heater.

My invention further consists in the novel construction and arrangementof parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section or" myimproved heater and puriier. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the tubesheet. Fig.3 is a vertical sectional elevation of the apparatus, constructed in themanner illustrated in Fig. l, showing the different parts asdisconnected. Fig. 4 shows a -vertical sectional elevation of a heaterand purifier l embodying my invention in a modified form of constructionand arrangement of parts. Fig. 5 is a verticalsectional elevation of aheater and puriier of modified-form of construction, the sameillustrating certain features of my invention. Fig. 6 is a verticalsectional elevation of a modiiedform of heater and purifier embodying myinvention. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional elevation of a heater andpurier constructed the same as the apparatus shown in Fig. 6, the casingand cover being removed, so as to expose the tubes and tube-sheets forcleaning and repairs. Fig. 8 shows a section of a portion of one end ofthe apparatus, and Fig. 9 a side elevation of a portion of the `jointbetween the cover and casing. Figs. 10 and 11 represent views similar tothose 'shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the only dit'- ference being that inFigs.10 and 11 the covers are removed. Fig. 12 is a modification.

In'Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A represents the inner or water cylinder. B vB arethe respective upper and lower tube-sheets, having a series of tubes, C,properly secured thereto. The upper tube-sheet B is secured in positionby means of an annular ring `or plate, a, the outer edge of saidtube-sheet being bolted to the inner edge of the ring, while the outerportion or edge of ring a is bolted between the flange b, which isriveted to cylinder A, and the iange c of the cover D. The lowertube-sheet B' is bolted to the iiange d, which latter is riveted tocylinder A, and is supported by means' of the ring E, which isconstructed with flanges e el. Ring E rests upon the lower head El ofthe apparatus, and, as will be observed, serves to conduct the incomingsteam, which enters the heater and purifier through opening F, into suchtubes only of the series as are located within the'ring E. The lowertube-'sheet B is provided with a sediment discharge pipe, e2, whichextends through the lower head E1, and is provided with a suitable cockor valve. (Not shown.) G is a steam# pipe H, located at the lower end ofsaid cylin der, while the pipe H1, located on the opposite side ofcylinder A, and .near the upper end thereof, constitutes thefeed-outlet. H2 is adrip-cock, attached to the lower head of the heater,and the same serves to empty thel heater of water of condensation.

' The particular method of securing the several parts of the apparatustogether is clearly illustratedin Figs. 8, 9, l0, and 11. The uppertube-sheet Bis attached "to the annularplate or ring a by means .of topbolts f, a suitable gasket, b', of yielding material, being ,preferablyplaced between the opposing faces of the tube-sheet and ring, in ordertoV secure a perfectly tight joint. The ring'a is secured betweenI theiiangesV b and c by means of the two kinds of bolts g h, bolts gbeing'of the ordinary construction, while the boltsh areI each providedwith a collar, i, which is formed on said bolts equidistant from itsends. These bolts g h are placed in succession aroundl the entire coverof the-apparatus, and serve the following important function: When it isdesired to take the apparatus-apart for the-purpose of cleaning orrepairing any portion -of the same, the outer cover and jacket beingyremoved, the inner cover D may be removed by simply removing the nuts jwithout dis-v turbing the. tube-sheets and tubessecured therein, as thecollar-bolts h will serve to retain the ring a securely in place. Thiscon-- struction will be found desirable in thev manufacture of theheaters, as the tube-sheets and water shell or cylinder may be 'iirmlybolted together, and the joints made tight before-the tubes are securedin place. In this way the tubes can be accurately adjusted and secured,and be allowed to remain in their Iproper position when the shell istaken off.

The operation of my improved heater, constructed lin the mannerillustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is as follows: The feed-water entersthe lower part of the inner cylinderA through inlet-pipe H, and freelycirculates-around the series of tubes C, and is discharged in a heatedcondition through the exit-pipe H1. y Steam enters the heat-er throughthe inlet-passage F, in the lower head of the same, and,:pass ingthrough the ring E, is conducted through the several tubes which openinto said ring. From said tubes the steam escapes into the cover D,which extends over the entire series of tubes, and from thence itdescends through the remaining tubes of the series and flows into thechamber I, located between the parts are subjected to the direct contactof steam.Y The sediment, which precipitates and is deposited on thebottom or lower head of the inner cylinder, may be drawn off through thesediment-discharge leading therefrom..-

In Fig. 4 the innerl cylinder A is provided with steam-tubes G, whichare secured at their opposite ends to independent tube-sheets B B', thelsame as illustrated in-Figs. l and 2.

In the vconstruction of heater and purifier represented in Fig. 4, theinnercover over cylinder A is dispensed with, and steam flows from thesteam-tubes directly into the chamber formed by the -imperfcrate coverG1 of the outer or steam jacket G. The lower tube-sheet Bl rests uponthe steam-conduit J, the lower end of which is contractedl to fit overthe,

vis enlarged to itagainstthe outer edge of the tube-sheet. The lowertube-sheet is provided withla sediment-discharge pipe, E2," the sameextending through the lower head El. Feedwater inlet-H is located nearthe lower end of4 cylinder A, whiler the feed-water outlet H1 is locatedon the opposite side-of the cylinder, near its top.-

K is a surface blow-off cock, having a pipe, K1, coupledlthereto, whichleads into the upper lportion of the inner cylinder A, and by means'ofwhich light particles of matter which rise tothe surface of the watermay be discharged from theheater. K2 is a sedimentdischarge pipe,l andit may be connected with the main discharge-pipe K3, as illustrated inthe'drawing, if so desired.y v

L is a safety-valve, which may bev attached toany portion of thewater-cylinder A, .said valvefbeing provided with an overflow-pipe, i

L, whichleads to the well. This valve operates to prevent the burstingof the heater,

shouldfthefpnmp continue towork after thefeed-Water cock attached tothel boiler has been, closed. The valve may be adjusted to withstand anydesired pressure, and when the pressure in the heater, from any cause,exceeds the pressure at which the safety-valve isset, the latter will beautomatically opened, and allow the water to escape from the heater intothe well, and from thencev be -pumped back into the heater, withoutcausing any damage tothe latter.l

The Voperation off-the heater and purier, constructed in the mannerlast. described and illustrated in Fig. 4, is as follows: Steam flowsinto the heater through the steam-inlet F, and, passing through conduitJ, enters the several tubes C, from whence the steam escapes into thechamber in the upper end of the heater. The confined steam flows fromsaid upper chamber downwardly through the annular space between thewater-cylinder and the steam-jacket, and escapes through the steamoutletM, located at the bottom of the apparatus.

It will be thus observed that the feed-water in the cylinder A issubjected to the action of steam through the medium of the severaltubes, the tube-sheets, and the shell or casing. The lighter particlesarising from the water are blown out through the surface dischargecock,'while the heavier portions are discharged through the pipe located inthe bottom of the cylinder.

The safety-valve, provided with an overflow leading to the well, servesthe important function of regulating the pressure in the heater, andadmits of the continuous operations of the pumps without danger ofinjuring the apparatus.

Fig. 5 represents a form of heater and purier wherein the steam passesdirectly through the heater, and is discharged at its upper end.

The water-cylinder A is provided with a series of steam-tubes, C, whichare secured to independent tube-sheets B B by means of the ring or platea, in the manner hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in Figs. 8,9, l0, and 1l.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a heater and puriiier wherein the steam-jacketis dispensed with. In this form of construction the watercylinder A isprovided with any desired number of tubes C, which are attached to upperand lower tube-sheets B B. B is secured to the cylinder by means of thering or plate a, which, in turn, is bolted between a iiange secured tothe cylinder and a flange formed on the lower edge of the cover, in themanner illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11.

Fig. 7 illustrates the heater shown in Fig. 6, when the cylinder, cover,and fasteningring have been removed.

In Fig. l2 the flange on the cover isof sufcient width to allow of thetube-sheetbeing bolted thereto, and thus dispensing with the annularring or plate a..

It is evident that slight changes in the construction and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the essential featuresof my invention-as, for instance, the heater may be placed in ahorizontal instead of a vertical position, if desired; and also theexhaust-steam pipes may enterat the top, side, or bottom of the heater;and the steam-outlet may also be located at the top, side, or bottomthereof, and the apparatus still retain all the important functions ofmy inven tion.

This tube-sheet v Having fully described my invention, what I claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a feed-water heater and purifier, the combination, with an innercylinder provided with a series of steam-tubes,`ofl a steam-jacketsurrounding said inner cylinder, and a closed steam-chamber attached toone end of the inner cylinder, the parts being arranged substantially asdescribed, whereby steam is first conveyed through the tubes in thewater-cylinder, and then conducted to the outlet-opening through theannular space between the steam-jacket and water-cylinder, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In a feed-water heater and purifier, the combination, with an innercylinder provided with a series of tubes and a cover attached to one endof said cylinder, of a steam-jacket surrounding said inner cylinder, anda steamconduit for conducting the steam to only a portion of the tubesof the inner cylinder, whereby the exhaust-steam is allowed to passupwardly through a portion of said tubes into the chamber at the upperend of said cylinder, and from thence downwardly through theremainingportion of said tubes, and thence to the outlet through theannular space between the steam-jacket and water-cylinder, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a feed-water heater and purifier, the combination, with an innercylinder provided with a series of steam tubes and an outer steam-jacket, of a safety-valve, attached to the inner cylinder by a pipe andconnected with the well by an overliow-pipe, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a feed-water .heater and purifier, the combination, with theinner cylinder having a flange secured to its upper end, of a tubesheet,secured to said iiange by means of an annular ring or plate,substantially as set forth.

5. In a feed-water heater and purifier, the combination, with the innercylinder having a iiange secured to its upper end, of a tubesheet havingan annular plate or ring bolted to its outer edge, the outer edge ofsaid annular plate being bolted between the flange 011 the cylinder andthe cover over the end of the same, substantially as set forth.

l6. In a feed-water heater and purifier, the combination, with thecylinder, of the tubesheet, having an annular ring or plate attachedthereto, said ring being secured to the cylinder by means of plain andcollared bolts, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this5th day of January, 1878.

SAML. HUGHES. Witnesses:

JAivrEs J. GRACE, LAURENCE It. PINKMAN.

